Manhattan School of Music connects students and teachersacross the world with Polycom solutions.

Distance learning in music education, how is this possible? Skeptics wonder if video conferencing technologycan capture superior sound quality or has the necessary clarity for tracking minute movements during perform-ance. The surprising answer: Yes.

The Manhattan School of Music, a preeminent international conservatory of music offers bachelor, master anddoctorate degrees in music performance. The school hails as the first conservatory in the country to incorpo-rate video conferencing into its music performance education curriculum.

Founded in 1918, the Manhattan School of Music is dedicated to the personal, artistic and intellectual devel-opment of each of its students who range from pre-college through postgraduate levels. In addition to approx-imately 850 students from over 40 countries in the College Division, the school serves about 450 New York-area students ages 5 to 18 in the Preparatory Division; almost 2,000 New York City school children through itsarts-in-education program; and approximately 1,700 college and K-12 students worldwide through its distancelearning program.

The school trains students in performance and composition, while providing a broad-based education in music theory, history and humanities. Under the leadership of Marta Istomin, president since 1992, the schoolemploys a superb artist-teacher faculty of 250 professional musicians and presents over 400 public perform-ances annually. Manhattan School of Music's more than 10,000 alumni remain active in every aspect ofAmerican musical life. Many are among the most distinguished artists performing in opera houses and concert halls, and on jazz stages throughout the world today.

“We initially explored video conferencing technology to accommodate the touring schedule of world renownviolinist, conductor and MSM faculty member, Pinchas Zukerman, so that he could teach his students whileconcertizing around the globe,” said Christianne Orto, director of recording and distance learning for theschool. “The program proved so successful that Istomin decided video conferencing presented great opportu-nities for the conservatory environment. We have since expanded our program to include master classes,workshops, clinics, one-on-one teaching, education and community outreach, professional development,coaching and the creation of a new elective class, 'Arts-in-Education & The Virtual Classroom,' designed to expose students to the virtual learning environment.”

Searching for Quality Audio and Video As they searched for the right solution, the Manhattan School of Music staff faced technology limitations with video conferencing. Other vendors' products proved inadequate for the high fidelity sound and acousticalrequirements of music instruction. Finding a suitable vendor involved careful consideration of equipment capabilities, ensuring it would address sound quality and flexibility.

Video Conferencing and MusicPerformance Education

ChallengeProviding adequate video conferencing prod-ucts for the high fidelity sound and acousticalrequirements of music instruction.

SolutionPolycom's VSX™ 8000

ResultCollaborating to approximately 850 studentsfrom over 40 countries in the CollegeDivision, about 450 New York-area studentsin the Preparatory Division and approximately1,700 college and K-12 students worldwidethrough the distance learning program.

Connect. Any Way You Want.

North America | Education | Video Polycom® in Education

“This technology meets our standards- high quality audio and video. We cannow teach music performance educa-

tion on a high level suitable for ouresteemed artist faculty in a virtual

environment”Christianne Orto

Director, Recording and Distance Learning Manhattan School of Music

Manhattan School of Music

Rev. 1/05

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In the past, video conferencing provided only monosound, which was unacceptable for delivering thesuperior quality necessary for music education. Inaddition, vendors could not allocate extra bandwidthnecessary for high quality audio. Since sound is aparamount requirement, the school thought existingsystems were unacceptable.

Until they discovered the Polycom VSX 8000, whichoffers StereoSurround™ capability that can allocate96 kbps of sound quality, including full-duplex stereoecho cancellation. Plus, the company's technical sup-port staff equipped the VSX 8000 with custom fea-tures tailored to the school's music application. LouisBrown, chief audio engineer at the ManhattanSchool of Music and an innovator in adapting record-ing techniques for music performance video confer-encing adds, “The Polycom 8000 allows me to createa greater depth of sound and image providing a morerealistic virtual environment. I am now able toexplore and utilize more creative audio techniques,never before imaginable, with impressive results.”

“Additionally, Polycom's VSX 8000 rack mountableunit gives us the flexibility and mobility we need forpresenting video conference performance or teachingevents in different venues,” said Orto.

“This technology meets our standards - high qualityaudio and video,” said Orto. “We can now teachmusic performance education on a high level suitablefor our esteemed artist faculty in a virtual environ-ment.” Additionally, Manhattan School of Music isnow collaborating closely with Polycom by providingsuggestions and improvements to help better servethe music education market.

Video conferencing and Music EducationWith Polycom's technology, Manhattan School of Music exports and imports music education tomaster classes at institutions of higher educationincluding the Cleveland Institute of Music and theNew World Symphony in Florida. Jazz clinics, work-shops and music enrichment classes for K-12 students are also given across the country to schoolsfrom Alabama to Wisconsin.

On a daily basis, the school also imports informationfrom national and international institutions, providingthe faculty an effective way to lead classes at the

institution. Guest artist teachers are available viavideo conference from remote locations.

The school applies the technology in many creativeways in order to build a pathway for the future. Onone occasion, the school used video conferencing topresent an honorary doctorate degree during a com-mencement ceremony. The recipient, MstislavRostroprovich, renowned laureate conductor of theNational Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C., is one of the most sought-after cellists in the worldand highly regarded in the music arena. He has givencountless memorable performances and inspired theworld's leading composers to enlarge and enrich thestandard cello repertoire with works especially com-posed for and dedicated to him. His inclusion in theceremony through video conferencing proved movingand inspirational for both faculty and staff.

President Istomin remains a staunch supporter ofvideo conferencing technology. Its use has enabledthe school to extend its distance learning programand the global reach of the musical arts.

“Our music programming was always ready for us todeliver to remote locations, but the technical limita-tions of the technology for music performance edu-cation were of great concern,” said Orto. “Polycom'ssolutions saved the program because of their ease ofuse, reliability and quality. It made all the differencein the world. We can now look forward to expandingfurther with the possibility of remote auditioning forprospective students.”

Other ConsiderationsFor those looking to start similar services, theManhattan School of Music recommends the following:1. Invest in a Polycom infrastructure. Advanced, high-

quality equipment that is easy to use is critical toacceptance.

2. Secure support on many institutional levels. It'svital to receive backing from senior administration,faculty, and student leaders before implementinga video conferencing program.

3. Educate and inform as many people as possible tohelp ensure buy-in from a large constituency. Oncepeople understand the benefits of the technology,they're more willing to accept and support its use.Demonstrating its potential is essential.

4. Integrate distance learning with recording and audio services. Convergence of content andtechnology is the key to superior sound quality.Similarly, incorporating institutional video technol-ogy services is also necessary to ensure the high-est production values for music performance video conferences.

About Manhattan School of Music

Manhattan School of Music is a preeminent

international conservatory of music granting bachelor

of music, master of music, and doctor of musical arts

degrees. Founded in 1918, the School is dedicated

to the personal, artistic, and intellectual develop-

ment of each of its students who range in age from

the pre-college through the postgraduate level.

In addition to approximately 800 students in the

College Division, who come from some 40 countries,

the School serves about 450 New York-area students

ages 5-18, in the Preparatory Division, almost 2,000

New York City schoolchildren through its arts-in-

education program, and approximately 1700 college

and K-12 students worldwide through its distance

learning program. The School trains students in

performance and composition and provides a broad-

based education in music theory, history, and

humanities. Website: http://www.msmnyc.edu

©2005 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved.

Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks and VSX and StereoSurround are trademarks of Polycom, Inc in the U.S and various countries.. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Diagram TitleManhattan School of Music uses Polycom's VSX™ 8000 to connect with students and teachers inmany countries across the world. The VSX 8000 is equipped with Polycom 14kHz StereoSurround™for unprecedented sound quality and clarity that uniquely recreates the spatial quality of soundfrom a participant's location in the classroom at the far end. The VSX series also maintains unsur-passed video quality, allowing students and teachers to see the minute details of the physical performance such as fingering and bowing.

Video Conferencing and Music Performance Education